Tip 1: Keeps Going … And Going …
The LED bulbs in new flashlights are rated for up to 100,000 hours of use before they burn out (that’s more than 11 years of constant use). They are very durable, produce very little heat and require very little current to run; resulting in smaller, lighter, longer-lasting batteries. Some models are waterproof, corrosion resistant, non-conductive or approved for use in hazardous conditions. Some have pocket clips, lanyards, flexible necks, and run on batteries as small as buttons, or AAAA through D-cells.

Tip 2: Pick and Choose.
There are now a dizzying array of models, with interesting features from a variety of manufacturers. This almost ensures that you can find just the right flashlight for your needs. Very small lights fit easily on a keychain, so you always have a light when you need it. C-cell and D-cell lights with a dozen (or more) LED bulbs provide brilliant illumination for security work. A Streamlight Stylus in my camera bag has seen constant use for more that a year, is made of aluminum, has been soaking wet, stepped on, used to prop doors open and generally been abused, and is still on it’s first set of batteries.

Tip 3: Don’t Blow Your Night Vision.
Bulbs in red and green illuminate without destroying your night vision — very useful when you are trying to get to your tree stand before dawn. Be careful if using green or red to read a map however, because ink on the map in the same color of the light will be very difficult to see.

Tip 4: Find Your Way Home.
Use a small LED light, in either continuous or blinking mode, to mark a driveway turnoff to the cabin for the other guys, to find your stand in the dark, or mark the correct trail back to camp. I’ve used one to return to camp while on a canoe trip (you can see it forever across a lake), and guys have tied one to their deer so they can return with the 4-wheeler after dark.

Tip 5: See and Be Seen.
Blaze orange has one problem – you can’t see it in the dark. Streamlight claims that their green LED will not spook game, allowing you to use it as an added safety measure when moving through the woods in the dark. Every once in a while I hear shooting before or after legal hunting times. Let the idiots know you’re not a deer.

Tip 6: Use Your Head.
Go hands free by using a model that straps to your head or clips to your hat. These units are now lightweight, comfortable, and don’t require separate battery packs and resulting wires. The LED bulbs require very little power, so a small, light battery is enough to deliver a bright beam for reading, searching in a pack or trunk, working on an engine or walking through the woods. For instance, the Streamlight Trident has three options: a single green LED to preserve your night vision, dual white LEDs when you need more light, and a xenon bulb for long-distance. The listed battery life is 2.25 to 120 hours, depending on which bulbs are used.

Tip 7: Color My World.
In addition to white, red and green bulbs, other colors available include blue and yellow. I’ve given my kids different colors, and can tell who is where from the color of their light.

Note: Streamlight has been mentioned several times only because that’s the brand I seem to have acquired and am familiar with. There are several other manufacturers who make quality LED lights. Check them out and see what works for you.

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